MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Madison College softball team ran their win streak to eight straight - making it a 6-0 start to their spring trip - before a loss in Tuesday's final game ended the run of success. The WolfPack began the day with a 17-4 drubbing of Sussex County Community College, however, the Pack was unable to keep it going and suffered a hard-fought 5-2 loss against #3-ranked Louisburg College. The games marked the first-ever contest for Madison College against either school.

Game #1: Madison College 17, Sussex County Community College 4 (5 innings)

Madison College opened the game with its biggest scoring inning of the season, racking up 11 runs on nine hits and three walks. After a pair of bases on balls sandwiched around a single loaded the bases, sophomore Karis Paulson got the big inning jumpstarted with a two-run single to right that scored Ava Stahl and Mackenna Schultz. The inning's third walk re-loaded the bases, and second year Brooke Cimler triggered a string of seven consecutive base hits with a line drive to left that plated Madison Coubal. Tailer Bartelt then ripped a two-run single to center, followed by a run-producing doubles by Jenna Johnson, Stahl, and Schulz, and RBI-singles off the bats of Hailey Richter and Coubal. Paulson closed out the scoring with a succesful ground out to second that allowed Schultz to score for the 11-0 advantage.

Sussex County Community College (0-2) got one run back in the home half against starter Hannah Aldrich. Three runs on three hits and an error in the top of the third pushed the lead to 14-1. Lillie Pluer added her name to the list of names with run-producing doubles, while Cimler added another single to bring in Paulson and make it 14-1. The Skylanders added two more runs in the third, however, the WolfPack got one right back on Emily Nichols' double to right in the fourth inning as Johnson crossed home after opening the inning with a base hit to left.

The scoring continued for both teams in the fifth, with Madison College reaching a 17-3 lead thanks to two hits, a walk, and an error. Sussex County used an error and a single to cap the scoring before the game ended via the run-rule.

Seven different players enjoyed multiple hits as the WolfPack registered their most hits in a game this season (18), and their most since 21 hits in the 2023 season opener at Rochester Community & Technical College. Cimler, a native of Hales Corners, Wisconsin, paced the offense with a career-high 3 for 4 effort that yielded two runs scored and two batted in.

The quartet of Stahl, Schultz, Coubal, and Johnson each produced two hits, two runs scored, and one RBI. Paulson drove in a season-best four runs and score two more as part of a 1 for 3 day. Bartelt and Richter each had two hits, two runs driven in, and a run scored. 

Aldrich (2-0), a righthander from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, allowed four unearned runs on three hits and three walks in her five innings in the circle. She struck out three en route to her second win of the season.

Game #2: #3 Louisburg College 5, Madison College 2

Louisburg College (15-2) took advantage of a big first inning to force the WolfPack to play from behind the rest of the game. Madison College starter Brooke Steinhorst issued walks to four of the first five batters, forcing in the game's first run. A two-run double made it 3-0, and a passed ball and wild pitch during one at-bat brought in two more runs for a 5-0 Hurricanes lead.

Madison College got on the scoreboard in the second after Brooke Anderson and Jenna Redders led off with consecutive singles, and Anderson scored on Madison Coubal's ground out to second base. A two-out walk and single in the fourth set up Karis Paulson to drive in a run, which she did on a line drive single to right to plate Steinhorst.

Steinhorst, a native of Poynette, Wisconsin, settled in after the rough start and eventually retired a dozen consecutive batters before issuing three more walks in the sixth. She was able to strand the bases loaded in both the sixth, and relief pitcher Kendall Weik did the save in the seventh inning. Steinhorst finished with five runs allowed, four of which were earned, on a hit and eight walks. She did fan six batters before Weik entered for a scoreless frame that included two hits, a walk, and a K.

At the plate, Coubal and Paulson each produced a hit and a run batted in, while Anderson had a hit and a run scored.

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